This Week in Toronto (September 14 - 20)

After a summer hiatus, This Week in Toronto is back for the new music season....and what a season it will be! The Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing, with both Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall occupied by TIFF events. So if you are a film buff, this is not to be missed! Ideally should have have your tickets already, but if you don't, you can still purchase single tickets and take your chances lining up to get it. The high profile music-themed movie, Io, Don Giovanni, has already happened last Saturday Sept. 12. There is a repeat showing this afternoon at the Ryerson Theatre. See Festival program for details. My choice for this week is Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky at Roy Thomson Hall on Thursday, Sept. 17, 9:30 pm. Another delectable - if non-musical - choice this week is The Young Victoria starring Emily Blunt, who was so deliciously nasty in The Devil wears Prada a few years ago (Roy Thomson Hall Saturday Sept. 19. Do go if you can.

Because of the all-engrossing TIFF, the music season doesn't really gear up until after the film fest is over. However an interesting event is My Friends and I Will Now Sing, a concert starring tenor James Ciantar and soprano Sinead Sugrue. Both are coaching with retired Canadian tenor Ermanno Mauro. Ciantar sang a promising Cavaradossi for Opera York last March, while Sugrue is a fine Lucia and Violetta, this latter role she will assume this season for Toronto Opera Repertoire. Also on the program are mezzo Loralie Kirkpatrick and baritone Douglas Tranquada, with pianist Adolfo De Santis. The concert is at University of Toronto Mississauga Campus on Saturday Sept. 19, 8 pm (CCT Building Lecture Hall 1080). For details see the poster above.